Angle head for socket wrenches



Aug. 0, 1955 N. P. WASYLOW 2,716,363

ANGLE HEAD FOR SOCKET WRENCHES Filed March 12, 1954 4 ""W" J L' ATTdF/VEVS' U i ed States Patent ANGLE HEAD FOR SOCKET WRENCHES Nicholas P. Wasylow, Grand Forks, N. Dak.

Application March 12, 1954, Serial No. 415,717

1 Claim. (CI. 81-57) My invention is in the nature of an angle-head for socket wrenches and the like, and has for its primary object the provision of a relatively small head which may be positioned in a restricted space for the loosening or tightening of a nut or headed bolt, where circumstances do not permit use of a wrench which extends axially outwardly from the bolt forany appreciable distance.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described, which may be utilized under conditions where it is not convenient or possible to impart reciprocal movements to that portion of the wrench which projects radially outwardly from the axis of the bolt.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described, which imparts greater leverage to the nut or headed bolt than is impartable through the medium of a conventional wrench.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which is relatively compact in size, is rugged and durable in construction, and has a minimum of parts and may thus be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

The aboveand still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specifications, appended claim, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation, as seen substantially from the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a view in plan, some parts being broken away.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings,

the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety a generally U-shaped frame including a base plate 2 and a pair of spaced matching arms 3. Secured between the outer end portions of the arms 3, through the medium of threaded bolts 4 having preferably slotted heads 5, is a cylindrical bearing 6. Preferably, and as shown, the heads 5 of the bolts 4 engage the outer surfaces of their adjacent arms 3. Also preferably, and as shown, relatively long annular sleeves or bushings 8 are interposed between the inner surfaces of the arms 3 and the intermediate portions of the cylindrical wall 9 of the bearing 6 at diametrically opposed points thereon.

Projecting axially through the bearing 6 and journalled for rotation therein, with its opposite ends projecting axially outwardly therefrom, is a gear shaft 10. A pair of opposed bevel gears 11 and 12 are provided with opposed axial recesses 13 for the rotative reception of opposite end portions of the cylindrical bearing 6. Opposite end portions of the shaft project through axial openings 14 and 15 respectively in the opposed gears 11 and 12. Preferably and as shown, gear 12 is keyed to the outwardly projected end 16 of the shaft 10, which preferably and as shown, is shaped to detach- 2,716,363 Patented Aug.f30, 1955 ICC ably receive a head 17 of a socket wrench or the like having a similarly shaped but slightly larger opening therein. Also preferably and as shown, the end 16 of the shaft 10 is provided with a conventional ball-bearing 18 which is biased outwardly to frictionally engage the wrench head 17 to discourage accidental removal thereof. Ball-bearing 18 is biased in an outward direction by means of a coil spring, not shown, all in a conventional manner. Gear 11 is rotatively mounted on the shaft 10 and is retained thereon against axially outward movement by means of a conventional spring collar 19.

A drive shaft 20, preferably and as shown, having an outer end portion 21 of a shape conforming substantially to the end portion 16 of the shaft 10, whereby to likewise detachably receive the head 22 of a socket or other wrench 23, is journalled for rotation in the base plate 2. The reduced inner end 25 of the drive shaft 20 is snugly received for rotation with a recess 26 in the cylindrical side wall of the bearing 6. Fast on the drive shaft 20, intermediate the base plate 2 and the bearing 6, is a tapered pinion 27, the teeth 28 of which have meshing engagement with the teeth 29 of the bevelled gears 11 and 12. Preferably and as shown, axially outward movement of the drive shaft 20 with respect to the bearing 6 and base plate 2 is prevented by engagement of the pinion gear 27 with the base plate 2.

When it is desired to utilize my novel structure, either for the purpose of gaining maximum leverage, or to loosen or tighten a bolt which is so located that it is substantially inaccessible to the conventional socket or other type wrench, the socket 17 is placed upon a nut or headed bolt, so located, and the head 16 of the shaft 10 is detachably secured thereto as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the drive shaft 20 will project at right angles from the axis of the gear shaft 10 in the direction of the operator. Thereafter, the head 22 of a suitable wrench 23 is detachably secured to the head 21 of the drive shaft 20. Thereafter, rotation of the wrench 23 in a position of suitable clearance will cause tightening or untightening rotation to be imparted to a given nut or headed bolt, as the case may be. Furthermore, as above pointed out, greater leverage upon said nut or bolt is achieved through the above-described angle head than is achieved by use of a conventional wrench because of the ratio between the pinion 27 and the gears 11 and 12.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be obvious that same is capable of modification without departure from the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a device of the class described, a generally U-shaped frame including a base plate and a pair of spaced arms, a cylindrical bearing, means mounting said bearing between said arms in spaced relation to said base plate, said means comprising a pair of diametrically opposed mounting screws disposed normal to the axis of said bearing, a pair of opposed bevel gears each having an axial recess, the opposite ends of said bearing each being received in one of said recesses and journaling said bevel gears for rotation thereon, a gear shaft extending axially through said bearing and bevel gears and secured to one of said gears for common rotation therewith, means for locking said gear shaft and bevel gears against axial movements relative to each other and to said cylindrical bearing, a drive shaft journaled for rotation in said base plate, the inner end of said drive shaft being journaled in said bearing intermediate said bevel gears and on an axis normal to the axis of said bevel gears, a pinion fast on said drive shaft and having meshing engagement with said bevel gears, the outer References Cited in the file of this patent end of said pinion engaging said base plate and re UNITED STATES PATENTS strained thereby agalnst axial movement away from meshing engagement with said bevel gears, means on 13881760 Raven g- 23, 1921 one end of said gear shaft for detachably mounting a 5 1,417,503 crapswn y 1922 socket Wrench head thereon, and means on the outer end :F 3 1 dd' hff dthbl wrench 1 small y of sal rive s at or eac a y securing a 2,284,871 ss June 2 1942 hereto 2,620,840 Schafer D 9, 1952 

